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Student-led FIT camp fights childhood obesity with wellness education

KOKOMO, Ind. — Erika Johnson hopes to be a pediatric nurse someday.

This week, she’s gained valuable experience working with children at Indiana University Kokomo’s annual FIT camp.

“This is going to make me a better nurse by teaching me to deal with situations that might make me uncomfortable,” said Johnson, a junior nursing major. “I don’t have a lot of experience with kids. This is making me more comfortable working with them.”

While Johnson, from Camden, learns from leading her campers, she’s also fighting childhood obesity with lessons on fitness; stress management; and fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein; along with games like hopscotch and soccer.

She’s one of 20 IU Kokomo students serving as counselors at the School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions’ camp, which aims to decrease obesity by teaching healthy habits to six- to 10-year-old children.

According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State of Childhood Obesity report, Indiana ranks 28^th of 50 states in overall prevalence of childhood obesity, with 16.3 percent of children considered either overweight or obese.

FIT Camp has had an impact, with more than 6,700 children attending since it was founded in 1997 as an educational program for those with asthma and/or diabetes. It later expanded to include healthy living and completely shifted focus to health and wellness in 2017. More than 300 nursing students have served as camp counselors. This year, students of any major were invited to participate.

Samantha Fouts, clinical assistant professor of nursing, and Naomi Jones, clinical assistant professor of nursing, co-lead the camp for 53 area children. It includes daily stress and rest activities; nutrition lessons; active play; games with the IU Kokomo soccer, basketball, and volleyball teams; crafts; and healthy snacks. They’ve also learned healthy stress management techniques.

“We’re hoping the kids choose this week to try new foods, particularly healthy options like a new fruit, vegetable, or healthy protein,” said Fouts, adding that they can impact the whole family through this education.

“We encourage them to go home and share with their families what they’ve learned,” she said. “We hope they’ve learned how to make healthy food choices, and how to incorporate activity and exercise throughout the day, and why that’s important.”

Counselor Olivia Boisselier, a general studies major from Winamac, was excited when her campers told her they had shared what they learned at camp at home.

“They seemed really interested,” she said. “Today at lunch they told me about how they told their parents about our lessons and were super engaged with the information. I’ve been happy to spend time with them and help them get into healthy habits and get really active. That’s what FIT camp is all about.”

Camper Cambreigh Hinkle came to camp to learn more about sports and to have fun.

“I’ve learned you have to pace yourself when you play, and have good sportsmanship,” she said, adding that the best part was that she made a new friend, Maggie Fisher.

Maggie was excited to learn about healthy proteins, including that “chicken makes you stronger.”

Fouts said it’s important for IU Kokomo to use its resources to make the community stronger by teaching wellness and healthy living.

‘This camp shows the community we care about their health and well-being,” she said. “It’s important for us to have that voice in the community and serve it.”

FIT Camp received grant funding from Women of the Well House, IU Kokomo’s philanthropic giving circle.

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.